Well, I can't explain the seemingly random body numbering system, but as far as I know at the start of production there were two series of body numbers.
Numbers beginning with T were for trimmed bodies, those without the T prefix were untrimmed. The first TR7 shell numbers were T1CG & 1CG. Interestingly the TR8 body numbers are also allocated at this early stage, as T1CK & 1CK.
So, Shaun's body number was a trimmed shell. I don't know how much of the trim was fitted to these T prefix bodies - anyone got any further info on this? And why were some shells delivered trimmed & some not?
As the examples in this thread show, the numbers seem to be quite random, but the parts manual does refer to body numbers as well as commission numbers, so there must have been some system to it all.
Did Triumph build the shells themselves at Speke, then after Speke closed have the shells built by Pressed Steel Fisher & shipped into the Canley & Solihull factories? Maybe the later numbers have correlation to the place of manufacture of the shell?
Bit of a mystery[:)]
Tony
<font size="1">1981 2L FHC Cavalry Blue - very original & not rusty!
1980 3.5L V8 DHC Regency Red - on the road again.</font id="size1">